Cecilia Lucente, LPC
I chose the career path of counseling because I have always felt called to help others. From working as a CNA for eight years starting at the age of sixteen, to utilizing my Bachelor’s degree working in a psychosocial residential setting developing educational groups, to working as a case manager at a homeless shelter while pursuing my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I have always found myself working for the service and support of others. My interest in counseling stems from wanting to understand people more, how they behave, communicate, and experience their day-to-day lives. I love the challenge of helping others cultivate their desired lives and to become the most authentic version of themselves.
I have a strong passion for working with those who have experienced trauma. With a specialization in Trauma Counseling Certification from Northern Illinois University, I have been working with clients who have experienced sexual and domestic violence since October 2023. I utilize Polyvagal Theory when working with clients to better help them understand the physiological effects trauma causes. I believe that while we may not be able to outgrow our trauma, we can grow with it in understanding how it impacts us.
I value transparency, authenticity, and openness when working with my clients. Sessions with me typically include psychoeducation to better help my clients understand their symptoms, diagnoses, and the therapeutic process. I utilize approaches backed by research that I have also found beneficial in my experiences as a client of counseling. These approaches may include therapeutic practices from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients live a meaningful life aligned with their values, even in the presence of discomfort, Narrative Therapy to help reclaim agency over their lives by rewriting the way they see their experiences, Gestalt Therapy to emphasize present moment awareness, personal responsibility and self-exploration, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to accomplish goals related to identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.
I view my clients as individuals, separate from their experiences or challenges. My goal is to support clients by utilizing their strengths to grow and implement therapeutic work. I am constantly learning as I continue to grow as a counselor. I believe my clients are the best experts of themselves and their experiences. My role is to help them better understand themselves through implementing therapeutic interventions and offering validating support. I am eager to work with those who are ready and willing to grow and gain more control of their desired life.
Aside from counseling, I thoroughly enjoy traveling, being in nature, and spending time with friends and family. During the summer months, I am often outside walking, biking, swimming, and hiking. I love to play tennis, pickleball, and frisbee golf! During the winter months, love to be inside doing yoga, baking, and watching documentaries!
